Computing-scale.



HJVI. THRELKELD. coMPuTlNG SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED )ULY 14. $914. y

` Patented J une 6, 1916.

v `2 sums-SMU i. E \"f n? ,Emmlillll )IIIIII lllllllllllllllillllllllll im@ il *f H. M. THRYELKELD.

'COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION F-ILD 1BLY4, 1914- 1,186,452, Patented June 6,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET-Z.

Howard 772 UiviTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

HOWARD M. THRELKELD.

OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 WIN WYLIE. OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

COMPUTING-SCALE.'

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Julie (i, 1.916.

Application filed July 14, 1914. Serial No. 850.972'.

T o all whom it may con-cern:

Be i't known that Ll-lowam) M. Tinian- KELD, a citizen of the United States, resi"d ing at Phoenix. in the county of Maricopa and State of Arizona. have invented new and useful Improvements in Computing-v,

Scales, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to computing scales, and, in. particular, to that class or type of scale in which mechanism is utilized both for' indicating or r gistering the cost or price of the commoditie weighed upon the scale platform andfor recording such cost or price upon. a suitable record blank. It proposes certain improvements,

hereinafter described at length, in or relating to the registering and recording devices-Y proper, and the means' or mechanism 'for actuating. the same, to the end, generally, of-

providing a simplified apparatus o f the character s ecified which lwill be readily -attachable to any-of the conventional makes of automatic scale in use, and which will oper-l ate from and in con-'junction with the mechanism of thescale to produce a complete and accurate record 'of each weighing. n

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated. in the accompanying drawing, wherethrough said device.

Referring to said drawings, A indicates, generally, the scale proper, and B and C the registering and recording mechanisms, which, vwith the operating mechanism D, comprise the attachment constituting the invention. The scale A is of the conventional, automatic type now'in use, and, hence, re-

.quires no extended description, beyond'the fact that it'includes the following main instrumcntalities, to wit: the platform l, the

beam '2, the shaft 3 to which is secured the pointer /t. that travels across the graduated card o contained in, the housing (3,'a'nd the strap or other flexible connection .7 between- 'the said beam and the enlarged head Sfofltlie i.

pointer, the arrangement being such that the depression ofthe beam, due to the weight of the material on the platform, serves to pro-- duce the requisite movement of the pointer through the intermediation ofthe strap. To

i'eturn'thel parts to normal'position, a suitable weight lever 9 is attached to the pointer head. f

- 4 In the construction illustrated, which, lfor present purposes maybe considered as preferred, 1the registering mechanism B is- 'shown' as consisting, primarily, of a graduated,rotatably-mounted body 10a1nd a cooperative pointer .11.y The first of these parts is in the form ofa hollow, conical shell which is approximately spiral in cross-sec tion, and is secured along one edge to a lhorizontal shaft-12. lThis shaft is supported in :suitable standards 13 constituting part of the frame-work of the apparatus, and issituated beneath, and co-planar with,l the pointer 11.the latter-'being disposed vertically and mounted' for vendwise movement in 12 has a suitabletransmission connection with lthel scale shaft 3, here shown as embo'dying a horizontal shaft 1 5, provided at opposite ends withbevel gears `16 and 17 which mesh, respectively, with ya gear '18 on theouterend of 'shaft 12 and with tliegear teeth 19 formed on the beveled edge of the pointer head .8. Consequently, when .the scale shaft is rotated, due to the descent of the platformI and beam, such rotation will be transmitted to shaft '15,.and thence to hereinafter termed' the registeringshaft., with lthe result that the position of the computing cone 10 is correspondingly adjusted In this connection, it may here be stated that the graduations on the said cone are ar.- ranged in two series of parallel columns whichv extend both lengthwise and lcrosswise -`a traveling carriage,14. The aforesaid shaft the shaft 12 of the registering'mechanism, v'

--shaft 23, the carriage having openings4 thereof and intersect eachother at right angles, the figures at the heads of the lengthwise columns denoting in the present instance, the numbers of pounds .and fractions thereof and those at the heads of the cross- Wise columns the prices per pound or 'fraction thereof.

The pointer 11, as above stated, is munted in the carriage 14, the movement of which determines the position of said pointenrelative to the cross-wise or transverse columns Vof the computing cone, and at the completion of such movement. the

pointer is lowered until its end -conl'actr with the surface of said cone, thus indicating the figures thereon from which the ytotal is to be computed,'(z'. e., the cost of a given :quantity of m aterial,-that is to say, the

. with an arcuate rack 20, and its upper arm cooperating with a price-'indicating 'scale 210. The said rack 20 actuat'es a4 pinion 2l secured to a horizontal shaft 22 that is journaled in the central and right-hand standakrds 13, and is situated above a toothed through which pass the two shafts22 and 23, and, also, a pair of guide rods 24, arranged one above and the other below said shafts and parallel therewith, both the said shafts and the guide rods being disposed above the 4computing cone. .The opening in the carriage through' which the shaft 22 projects, is provided lwith a pair of keys 25 that extend in to a rified or spiral groove 26 in said shaft, and, inl consequence, during the rotation of said sha-ft, the carriage will be caused to move toward either end of the shaft, according to the direction of such rotation. Normally, however, the carriage occupies a position directly above the smaller vor left-hand end -of the cone, which may,

therefore, be considered its Zero position,

so that the4 initial rotation of shaft 22 \vill cause thecarriage to move toward the right,

it being understood that4 such rotation is produced through the agency 0f the parts 20 and 21 When the former is manipulated to adjust the mechanism in accordance with the current. price of the particular com,- modity being sold.

The downward'movement of the pointer' 11 may advantageously be produced by formingl a vertical series of rack teeth 27 upon the back of said pointer,t which teeth mesh With the long teeth formed' upon the shaft 23, the latter being equivalent, therefore, to an elongated pinion. The rotation of thisshaft is preferably accomplished by -means of the operating mechanism D, as

subsequently explained.

The recording mechanism is designed to operate upon a paper strip or ribbon, (illustration of which, however, isomitted as being unnecessary to the disclosure), and y in its preferred form comprehends devices for` printing upon such strip or ribbon ,the-

weightof the yquantityxof material upon the scale platform, the -price of said material per pound or fraction thereof, and the computed cost of such quantity at such price. VSeparate drums or other type-carry-- ing .elements 28, 29 and 30 forprinting the three items mayv advantageously be employed, which are set in the manner hereinafterdescribed, and inconnection therewith a. 'single platen or lmpression element. v31 actuatable 'by the operating mechamsm.

The` first ofthese drums, e., that which serves to print the Weight, is mountedon the vleft-hand standard 13, upon a shorthorizontal shaft 32, and is disposed beneath the adjacent end of theplate'n. This dru-mzis driven from the vregistering shaft. 12, and,

hence, is set or adjusted simultaneously with 'cone 10, the said shaft 12 being extended for such purpose, to the said left-hand stand-.- ard and provided with a gear 33 that meshes' with and drives a gear 34 on the drum shaft.

The second drum 29 is employed to print the price and is Hset by the actuation of the 'rack 20, or equivalent price-.setting elementof the scale, through the agency of the pinion 21. The rifled shaft 22 carrying said pinion is likewise extended beyond the central standard 13 and is connected with the vertical shaft 35, whereon said drum is mounted, through the agency of the intermeshing bevelgears-36 and 37, so that the manipulation of the element 2O for the purpose of setting the scale in accordance `with the current price of the material beingr weighed lserves, also, to automatically and simultaneously set' said drum. The third drum 30-is designed to print the computed cost', and is operated from the 'pinion shaft 23 by means of intermeshing bevel gears 38 and 39, the latter' of which is fixed to the said pinion shaft vand the former to the verticalv drum Ishaft 40, the two shafts and 40 being supported in any suitable-manner. The last-mentioned shaft, however. is actuated directly from the operating mechanism D, as explained later, so that the drum 30 is not set until the adjustment or setting' of thecomputmg cone 10 and the drums 28- and 29 has been completed.

The actuation of the operating mechanism l) takes place, as previously stated, after' the ,weighing operation has been concluded and the adjustment or setting of the computing cone 10, the pointer carriage 14, and the drums 29 and 30 has been terminated. This mechanism, in its preferred form, consists,-

'by any suitable mea-ns, as, for example, the handle 41,1. The aforementioned cams are utilized to successively actuate the devices which vlock the computing cone in adjusted" position, to produce the rotation of the pinion sha'ft 23, which, in turn lowers the pointerll into contact with said cone andv sets the computing drum 30, and to depress theplaten 31. These actions take place during the first half-revolution of the operating shaft, and as the latter completes its revolution the order is reversed, the last action be-A ing the unlocking of the cone. Referring more particularly to lFigs. 1 and 3, the two cams or eccentrics 42 disposed above the registering' mechanism on the shaft 4l are each shown as provided with a strap 43, which is connected by a rodV 44, or the like, with the movable member 45 of the corresponding locking device, so that during the initial rotation of 'shaft 41, the said members 45 will be rotated. Each member 45 is here shown as in the form of a disk having a clutch tooth or shoulder 455 on its inner face, and as having associated with it a' compleinental disk 47 which is fixed to the adjacent standard l13 and is likewise toothed upon its inner face, as at 477, the arrangement being such that when the members 45 arevrotated, they are simultaneously forced laterallyalong shaft. 12, the latter and the pins or other fastening devices 48 passing through suitable arcuate guide slots 49`With which member 45 is provided. Upon its back, orv outer face, each member 45 carries a friction lpad or plate 51, 'which is-designed lto engage a friction plate or disk 52 fixedv on 'shaft 12, lin consequence vwhereof the out-- ward movement of the members 45 and the resultant engagement of their friction ele= ments 5l with the friction elements 52 serve to hold the cone 10 against movement, the

,twov eccentrics having a counterpart arrangement whicli enables them to ac t in unison.'

The third cam 53 onslia-ft 41 is utilized to" V controll operation of the devicewhich, produces the rotation of the pinion shaft 23, and as represented in Fig. 2, said device embodies, in the present instance,a lever`l"54 having a rocking mounting intermediate its ends and being` provided at' its upper end with a roller 5G which is normally held against said cam by the action of a spring The lower end of said lever is formed with an arcuate,rack-like extension 58, the

teeth of which mesh with those of a pinion 5S), so that during the rocking movement of --the lever incidental to .the Irotation 'of shaft 41, such vmovementwill be transmitted to shaft 23.- Rotation of `the shaft 41 will' turn the cam 53 thereon in a direction to allowtlie spring 57 to actuate the lever 54 to cause lowering of the pointer 11 and setting or adjustment of the computing drum 30, further rotation. of saidl shaft causing the cam 53 to raise or return the pointer tolinitial position.

' The two remaining cams 60`-are arranged to depress the platen 31, the latter being normally held in raised position by suitable spring or springs 61. These cams are ydisposedfdirectly above a pair of rollers 62,' which are rotatably mounted'on the body of A the platen, and are .in constant engagement with the same, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2. As represented in the formerigiire, there is anv appreciable space, under normal conditions, between the tops ofthe drums 28, 29 and 3() and the bottom of the platen, and through this space are passed paper strip, mayfbe producedby or through y the agencyl o f, the movements of the platen, but as such operations form no part of the present invention, illustration of the instrii`' inentalities- -necessary therefor -is omitted.

v,It may be stated, however, that the paper strip passesbetween a pair of Vfeed rolls GG and G7 to thespace between the platen and,

the printing drums,- and, at the completion yof the printing or"recoiding operation, is

severed into ticket-like sections of suitable lengths' by a device which may embody, for instance, fixed and movable knives GS and 69 located a slight distance in front of thefed rolls, the second-named knife 69 being atvtacheditothe platen, so 'asito participate in its movements.

The complete operation lis as follows The material to be weighed is placed upon the scale platform v1`which sinks vir the j usual manne-r landactuates the pointer 4, the price,isetting"element 200 having first been adjusted \i n accordance with the current price of the material, with the lresult that the rifled shaft 22 is rotated by pinion 21V and, in turn,'positions the carriage- 14 with respect to the'computing` cone 10 and sets the price-printing drum 29'. The depression ofthe scale platform also producesthe setting or rotary adiustment ofthe said cone, through the agency of the transmittingshaft 15 and its gear connections with thel scale and cone shafts, the rotation of the' cone shaftl serving to leffect the setting ofthe weight-printing drum 28. The operating shaft 4:1 is then turned through one.

complete revolution, during `the first half of whichthere take place in succession: the rotation of the movable disks 45- and consequent engagement Qf their friction' meinbers .'51 with the friction members 52, to

lock the computing cone. in adjusted or set position; the rocking of the lever 54 which produces the descent of the pointer 11 into contact With the cone, and the setting of the 4total-printingfor computing drum 30; the depressiono'fl--the platen 3,1;l and, finally, the' severing "fof the paper stri-p. During the-second half-revolution o f the operating shaft, the .platen kfirst rises; the computing drum isretur'ned to its initial or zero position, and the pointer 1l is caused to ascend;

and the disks 45 are reversed and unlock -the cone. Thelatter' and the weight-print-u ing drums 28 are returned to zero or initial position when the material is removed from the scale platform, and the pointer-carriage and the'price-print1ng drum 29 are likewise caused to assume their respective initial positions simultaneously vwith the return of the price-adjusting clement 260.- The feed move- `ment ofthe paper strip and the movement of theinking ribbon may take place at any time found suitable, while lthe severing of the stri occurs at the conclusion of the descent o the platen.

I claim: v

1. Inv a computing scale, the combination with Weighingf'mechanism; -of means for computing the cost of materials weighed in\ cluding a recording mechanism having separate means for prin'tingthe weight of the material weighed, its price, and its computed cost at such price; and a movable computing element actuatgd by the weigh ing mechanism and having a controlling surface l for the recording mech finism shaped in directions parallel to and transversely of its direction o f motion in accordance with differentv weights and prices.

9.' In a computing scale, the combination with weighing mechanism; of means for computing the cost vof materials weighed including a recording mechanism having means for printing the weight of the ma'- terial weighed, its price, and its computed cost at such price; arotatable member ac-f tuated by the weighing mechanism and having a peripheral surface'generated circumferentially and axially according to different Weights and prices to control the operation of-the vrecording mechanism, and means operative after the weighing operation has been completed for actuating the recording mechanism. i

loperation thenewith; connections between Iative subsequent to the completion of the In a computing scale, the combination,

with weighing mechanism; of a registering mechanism embodying a rotatable computing cone having graduations thereon, and. a movable pointer coperative with said cone; connections between :said weighing mechanism and said cone for operating the latter from the foiiner; and means for movingl said pointer into cooperative relationwith different giaduations on the cone.

4. In a computing scale, the combination,

said weighing mechanism and said cone for operating the latter from `the former; and 'separate means for `moving said pointer endwise to and from engagement with the periphery of the cone, and laterally toward either end of said cone.

6. In a computing scale, the combination, with weighing mechanism; of a registering mechanism embodying a rotatably mounted computing element having intersecting transverse and longitudinal columns of figures thereon, and a movable pointer cooperative with said element; 4and ,connections between said Vweighing mechanism and said element 'for operating the latter from the former; said pointer being mov` able transversely to and from engagement therewith, and toward either end of saidy element. p v

7. In a 4computing scale, the combination, 110

with weighing mechanism; of a registering mechanism embodying a rotatably mounted computing element operatively connected with the weighing mechanism; and having a peripheral surface generated circumferentially and axially in accordance with different weights and prices; a controlling mem-` ber. for the registering mechanism coperative with said element; and mechanism operweighing operation for successively locking said. element in adjusted position and'moving said member into -coperative relation with the same.

' 8. In a Icomputing scale, the combination, with weighing mechanismyof a registering. mechanism embodyingfa rotatably mounted computing' element operatively connected with weighing mechanism; of a registering with the weighing mechanism and lhaving A circumferential and axial graduations thereon, corresponding to diHei-ent weights and prices; a controllingmember fortlie vregistering mechanism coperative with said element; and mechanism operative subsequent to the completion of the weighing operation f o'r locking and unlocking said element sub-l sequent to its adjustment'and for moving said member to and from coperative relation with.. said elementv iii .the interval between said locking and unlocking.operations.

09. In al computing scale, -the combination, y with weighing mechanism, and an adjustable 15 price-setting element associated therewith; of a registering mechanism embodying a rotatably mounted computing element operatively connected with the weighing mechanism' and having' circumferential and axial graduations thereon 'corresponding to differ- 'ent weights and' prices, anda pointer operatively connected with. said setting element for movementlongitndinally with relation to said computing element when the former element is adjusted; and mechanism for subsequently moving said. pointer'towaid the computing element..4

' eratively connectedwith the weighing mechanis'i'n and having circumferential and axial 10..- In 'a' computing scale, the combination, with 'weighing mechanism, and an adjustable price-setting element associated therewith; of a registering mechanism embodying a rotatably mounted computing elementopgraduations thereon corresponding to differ- 'ent weights and prices, .and a pointer operativelj7 connected with said setting element for movement longitudinally with relation to said computing element when. the former element is adjusted; and mechanism for locking and unlocking said computing element subsequent to its adjustment'and for moving said pointer toward the saine in the interval between said locking and unlocking operations.'

Y 1l. In a computing scale, the combination with weighing mechanism, of a recording' mechanism embodying separate eleinentsfor printing the weight of the material weighed, its price, and its computed cost at such price, means for settingthe price printing'element to print a given price per unit of weight,

by the action of the weighing mechanism for setting said weight printing element, means coperative with the computing means forv setting said cost printing element, and a platen cooperative with said printing clemente. l

12. In a computing scale, the combination,

with a weighing mechanism, cost computing means including aprice-setting element' associated therewith; of'a recording mecha- .i nis-ni embodying separate elements for printing the weight of the material weighed, its price and its-computed cost at suchprice, the weight-printing and price-printing elements being operatively connected with the weighing mechanism and the price-setting element for adjustment thereby, a platen common to and cooperative with all of said 'printing elements, and means for successively adjusting the cost-printing element and actuating the platen.

13. In a computing scale, the combination,

with a weighing mechanism, cost computing means including a price-setting element associated therewith; of a recording mechanisni embodying separate elements for p'rinting-the weight of the material weighed, its

price and its computed cost at such Ap ri'ce, the weight-printing and price-printing elements being operatively7 connected with the weighing mechanism and the price-set-ting element foradjustmcnt thereby, means'for adjusting the Cost-printing element, a platen common to all of said printing elements, and an operating shaft having cams thereon for successively actuating the last-named adjusting means and the platen.

l14. In a compu-ting scale, the combination, with` a weighing mechanism, and a pricey setting elementassociated therewith; of a registering mechanism embodying an axially and circumferentially graduated computing element connected with the weighing mechanism for rotation thereby, a pointer cooperative with the computing element, a-

carriage whereon said pointer ismounted for endwise'niovementtoward and from saidl computing element, connections between said settingelement and said carriagefor adjust-v ing the position of the latter relative to said computing element, and means for moving said pointer into contact with said computing element subsequent to such adj iistnient.

15, The combination, with a weighing mechanism, and a price-setting element aslsociated therewith; of a registering mechanism embodying a computing element connected with the weighingmechanism for rotation thereby,'and having a peripheral surface shaped 'circumferentially and axially in accordance with different weights and prices and a pointer coperative `with the compiitingelement and connected with the setting element for movementrelative to sad'perip'heralsurface of the computing element when said setting element 1s operated; a recording mechanism embodying covhlperat-1ve printing and impact elements, the

former of which is connected with said setting.' element for "adjustment by the same;

and a common operating means for said 'registering and recording mechanisms adapted to sueeessvelymove said pointer toward said Vcomputing element and to .aetuate said ilnpet element.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sei;l my hand 1n presence 'of two subscribing 10 Witnesses.

. HOWARD M. THRELKELD. l' Vitnesses:

' H. M. CLEMENS,

S. J. KENYON. 

